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By Colin Dunlap | 5:45 p.m. Friday 
QUESTION: What happened to Tyler Urban? Lots of hype early about working him into the passing game but it hasn't happened. Sure seems like he could help out Brown. He must be frustrated as the extended tackle.
Jim; Dallas, Texas
DUNLAP: Good question. As it stands now, Urban has six catches in the first eight games for 81 yards (13.5 yard avg.) and a touchdown. I think what has hurt -- if you want to call it that -- the amount of balls being thrown Urban's way has been the development of Ryan Clarke as a fullback. I think, going into the season, offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen was up in the air as to what he was going to do in short yardage situations, whether it was around the goal line on all downs, or on third-and-short from anywhere on the field. In my estimation, the original plan (before they saw that Clarke could be trusted) was probably to throw it to Urban a lot of times in those down and distances, on short, safe throws in an attempt to pick up the first down or touchdown. After it was proven that Clarke was, indeed, a brutish and bullish force in that power package, I think Mullen has kind of said, "why throw it when we don't need to?" and either given it to Clarke in those situations, or used Clarke -- behind Urban -- as a blocker for deep back to pick up the yardage.
With all that said, I am confident, moving forward, that Tyler Urban is a pivotal piece of the offense, and his importance to the unit (and personal success) cannot be solely measured by the amount of passes he catches.
Posted
Nov 06 2009, 05:37 PM
by
Colin Dunlap